Trading Room RECAP 4.8.25 | Polaris Trading Group for Stocks and Futures Traders

At 7:26 AM, David kicked off the session with chart streaming and a warm “Good Morning.”
By 7:28 AM, he shared a thought-provoking video from @samuraipips358 featuring Peter Brandt. The message, “Win/Lose → Exit,” encouraged traders to focus on proper exits rather than ego-based outcomes.
He also echoed a psychological insight from Yumi (@samuraipips358): “No matter how much of an edge your system has, the reason you cannot realize it is always you.”

At 8:42 AM, David reported that the initial upper target zone (TZ) for ES was fulfilled, indicating early bullish traction.
He then outlined the bullish continuation scenario for ES: If price could sustain above 5150, a rally toward 5225–5250 was on the table.
Shortly after, he shared the PTG strategy brief for the day.

Around 9:12 AM, David announced a long setup on CL (Crude Oil), with Target 1 filled.
By 9:14 AM, Target 2 had also been hit, completing a successful trade.
At 9:29 AM, he confirmed all CL long targets were fulfilled, wrapping up a clean OPR (Opening Range Play).

When asked, he clarified that the day marked the beginning of Cycle Day 1 (CD1).
He explained that CD1 typically involves establishing a cycle low from which a new rally can begin, though he warned that elevated volatility was likely to continue.
He urged traders to maintain discipline and patience as normal cycle dynamics were out of sync.

David maintained a bullish lean through the late morning, awaiting structural confirmation of a bear shift.
Around 10:31 AM, he noted that the A4 long was stopped out, prompting a reversal to short, which he began scaling into.
He warned bulls that they needed to hold above 5275 or risk further downside.
By 10:54 AM, he posted a humorous “soap bar” image to illustrate bulls losing traction.
🥗 Break Period

At 11:45 AM, he announced he was stepping away for a lunch break and contractor meeting, posting a lighthearted image to accompany it.

At 2:11 PM, David highlighted that price had fallen back into the prior value area, warning that below 5150, bears were in control.
Shortly after, NQ lost the 17800 level, triggering a drop into the 17550–17410 target zone, which was fulfilled.

By 3:19 PM, the ES target of 5015 was not only hit but exceeded, showing an extreme reversal.
David and others noted the massive range:
- ES moved 5305 to 4993 (over 6% intraday).
- NQ saw ~1200-point drop (7.1%), a staggering move.
He noted that VIX hit 56, and the Market-On-Close (MOC) imbalance grew from $2.5B to $3.5B in sell orders.

David compared the move to October 14, 2008, noting that it was the largest-ever reversal from a +3% gap up open in S&P futures.
He posted a “Tale of the Tape” image to summarize the historic session and closed with a reminder:

“You can say ‘I was there!’“

📘 Educational Takeaways

➤ Stay Flexible: Even in a strong bull trend, conditions can reverse. David flipped from long to short intraday after structural shifts emerged.
➤ Define the “Line in the Sand”: 5150 on ES and 17800 on NQ were key levels. Once lost, price cascaded fast—highlighting the importance of key zones.
➤ Manage Volatility Risk: High VIX environments (like 56) require nimble strategy and reduced position sizes.
➤ Read the Tape & Flow: Watching MOC imbalances and real-time structure provided major clues to institutional activity.
➤ Cycle Awareness Matters: Understanding cycle days (like CD1) can guide expectations for reversals, rallies, or consolidations.
➤ Discipline Over Emotion: Emotional reactions were curbed by clear structure and scenario planning. Execution followed preparation.